US Open-winning Rahm leads final Olympic rankings

The men’s Final Olympic Golf Rankings have been published this week bringing to an end a three-year qualification process for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The top-15 world-ranked players are automatically eligible to play but with a limit of four players from any one country. Of course this rule mainly affects the US with that country currently representing 10 of the top-15 players in the world.

2021 Zurich Classic winners Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith will team up again for Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (Credit: PGA Tour)

Spain’s Jon Rahm took the number one position with his US Open win on Sunday pushing back Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau to second through to fifth in the process.

While the likes of Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka dismissed the Olympics due to scheduling and travel concerns, Rahm is excited to represent his country.

“In my case I want to play. It’s an absolute dream of mine to be an Olympian. I’ve been able to win championships representing Spain as an amateur in almost every level, and to bring back the gold medal would be something amazing,” said Rahm last month.

With Adam Scott choosing not to play, Cameron Smith leads the Australian field in 12th position. Smith will be joined by his fellow Zurich Classic-winning team member, Marc Leishman, who secured 19th place.

It will mark the first trip to the Olympics for both players with Marc Leishman choosing not to play in 2016 due to his wife Audrey recovering from toxic shock syndrome and Smith not being eligible at the time.

The men’s competition will take place at the Kasumigaseki Country Club, west of Tokyo, from July 29-August 1.

The women’s rankings will be finalised following this week’s Women’s PGA Championship.